A Pitiless Rain: The Battle of Williamsburg, 1862 [Hardcover]

Earl C., Jr. Hastings (Author), David S. Hastings (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1997

Signed & inscribed by Earl Hastings on the ffep. The first full length study of the Battle of Williamsburg in the Civil War. Much of the material is based on original sources not previously published. Hardcover. Original jacket. Book looks great, very minute wear. Jacket has light edge wear. NF/VG.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: White Mane Pub; First Edition edition (May 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157249042X
• ISBN-13: 978-1572490420
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,320,022 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Only Title (But A Good One Nevertheless) On Williamsburg, February 20, 2004

By 

Brett R. Schulte "Civil War Buff" (Southwestern IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Pitiless Rain: The Battle of Williamsburg, 1862 (Hardcover)

This is the only book-length account of the Battle of Williamsburg that I'm aware of, and that makes this book a great addition to any Civil War library. The writing style is pretty good, and there are a lot of maps, but the computer graphics used to generate those maps make them look a little weird. I really enjoyed the authors' appendix where they described the current locations and condition of the redoubts in the Confederate defense line. Unfortunately many of them are now on private property or have been destroyed by modern construction projects.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book On A Forgotten Battle, July 14, 2003

By 

15th NW Arkansas (Northern VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Pitiless Rain: The Battle of Williamsburg, 1862 (Hardcover)

A Pitiless Rain sheds light on the little known but bloody battle of Williamsburg in 1862. The authors get to the battle quickly, but succinctly describe events on the Peninsula prior to the battle. The description of the battle is good and gives plenty of detail. The maps are fairly good but a couple more would have been nice. It's interesting to see officers like Hooker and Longstreet in action before they became well known. Although not the most interesting writers, the authors put you into the battle in a informative but readable style. Recommended for all Civil War buffs wanting to read about a little known battle.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great History!, May 19, 2010

By 

J. K. Brandau "Author, Murder At Green Springs" (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Pitiless Rain: The Battle of Williamsburg, 1862 (Hardcover)

A Pitiless Rain is a significant chronicle of a long overlooked event. The Hastings deserve sound applause for their well researched presentation that makes the Battle of Williamsburg come alive and understandable. My relatives in Co. B, 38th Va. Inf., no doubt, would approve the authors' objectivity throughout, even though they themselves were lost in the woods at the battle's climax. True, the graphics can use some polish, but having personally researched the action and scouted Early's charge prior to discovering this work, I can attest to the book's value to anyone interested in this battle and its role the Peninsula Campaign. This is an important contribution to history and a great battlefield companion! Good job!